Christmas inferno in Sta. Ana

At least 30 houses were destroyed when a fire of still undetermined origin hit a residential area in Sta. Ana, Manila, early yesterday.

Arson investigators from the Manila Fire Department said the blaze started at the second floor of a two-storey apartment located at 2609 Old Panaderos street at about 3:12 a.m.

The fire, which reached Task Force Delta, was placed under control at about 6:02 a.m., and was declared out by 7:04 a.m.

Arson investigators placed the damage to property caused by the blaze at P5 million. At least 80 families were left homeless.

In Caloocan City, an 11-year-old boy died after he was trapped inside their burning house yesterday morning.

Caloocan City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario identified the victim as Raymundo Roqueta, of Sampaguita street, Bagong Barrio. He could hardly be recognized when his body was recovered by firefighters inside the bathroom.

The blaze began at around 10 a.m., just a few minutes after his father, who was reportedly cooking lunch in the kitchen, left for a still unknown reason.

Nacario said he and his men quickly responded to the fire scene and tried to rescue the boy after they were told by neighbors that he could still be inside the house.

He said that the boy could have decided to escape through the bathroom window since the exit was already blocked by fire.

It was gathered that the father, whose name was not immediately known, left his son who was sleeping in the bedroom.

The fire, which was contained two hours later, also partially burned a few houses in the area, Nacario said. – Mike Frialde, Jerry Botial